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Biomedical subjects

A Codina

Publications and source records attributed to A Codina.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Abdominal compartmental syndrome in non-injured patients].

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is characterized by increased intraabdominal pressure and a set of secondary pathophysiological changes in the abdominal. ACS has reappeared in the literature recently in relation to the surgical concept to damage control, applied particularity in contexts of severe abdominal injury polytraumatized patients. We report two cases of ACS that appeared after scheduled abdominal surgery: one after repair of a large eventration and the other in the context of septic shock due to fecaloid peritonitis. Both patients died of multisystem organ failure in spite of surgical decompression. We wish to emphasize that ACS can appear in contexts other than surgery for damage control, and we stress the need to measure intravesical pressure as a reflection of intraabdominal pressure, particularly in certain high risk patients in the postoperative recovery ward. Finally, we review the pathophysiology of ACS and its management, which is based on early treatment to prevent multisystem organ failure with an associated high risk of death.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

[Calcified cerebral metastases. Study of two cases and review of literature].

Although the most frequent cause of intracranial neoplasms are metastases, they very rarely calcify; classic histopathological series have shown the incidence to be approximately 1%. We have found 54 reported cases of intracranial calcified metastasis, the most frequent primary tumour reported being pulmonary adenocarcinoma (13 cases) and adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal tract and adenocarcinoma of breast (8 cases each). Some reports have shown a longer survival in patients with this kind of image on cerebral scans. We present two patients with intracranial calcified metastasis due to dissemination in both cases of pulmonary adenocarcinomas. The survival under treatment in both patients was similar to that of patients with no calcified metastasis on brain scans. So, facing calcified intracranial lesions, metastatic origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis, pulmonary tumours being the first to be ruled out.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with transient ischemic attacks].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels in patients with atherotrombotic transient ischemic attacks (TIA), its temporal profile and response to folic acid (FA) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hcy was determined in 62 patients and in 69 controls. RESULTS: There were no differences (p < 0.87) of baseline Hcy in TIA patients vs controls. Hcy levels were higher 4-6 weeks after TIA (p = 0.02). FA treatment decreases the Hcy levels (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocisteinemia is a possible risk factor for atherothrombotic TIA and should be measured between 4-6 weeks after TIA. Treatment with FA normalizes Hcy levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity as a risk marker for first-ever lacunar infarction: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional assessment of small arteries and arterioles could provide valuable information regarding the extent of diffuse arteriolosclerosis in patients with small-vessel disease. Therefore we attempted to clarify the role of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) as a risk marker for first-ever symptomatic lacunar infarction. METHODS: Forty-six patients with lacunar infarction and 46 sex- and age-matched control subjects were prospectively evaluated. Cerebral hemodynamics were studied with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. CVR was examined by calculating the percent increase in mean flow velocity occurring after 15 mg/kg acetazolamide administration (Diamox test). RESULTS: CVR was significantly (P<0.0001, Student's t test) lower in cases (50.0+/-12. 7%) as compared with control subjects (65.2+/-12.4%). A multiple logistic regression analysis identified male sex (odds ratio [OR] 2. 3, P=0.02), age (OR 3.6, P<0.005), and the presence of lacunar infarction on magnetic resonance imaging (OR 5.3, P<0.001) as significant and independent factors associated with a reduction of CVR. Moreover, a cut-point of 55.6% (sensitivity 67%, specificity 82%) was established as the threshold value for distinguishing between pathological and normal CVR. CVR was significantly (P=0.02) lower in patients with multiple (46.38+/-12.6%) than with single (54. 83+/-11.58%) lacunar infarction. In addition, a trend of negative correlation was found between CVR and the number of lacunar infarctions (r=-0.26, P=0.08). In the multiple logistic model, history of hypertension (OR 7.24; 95% confidence interval 2.95 to 17. 79) and CVR (OR 0.8; 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 0.93) emerge as significant and independent predictors of first-ever lacunar infarction. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that impaired CVR is a risk marker for first-ever lacunar infarction.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1998

[Parkinsonian hemi-syndrome as the initial manifestation of supratentorial cystic hemangioblastoma in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau disease].

INTRODUCTION: Retino-cerebellar hemangioblastomatosis or Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a phacomatosis with a dominant autosomal pattern of inheritance, which is characterized by the presence of hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system (cerebellum and spinal medulla), retinal angiomas and tumors (pheochromocytoma, clear cell carcinoma) or cysts of the abdominal viscera. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 22 year old female with Von Hippel-Lindau disease, in whom a cystic hemangioblastoma of the basal ganglia of the left hemisphere was diagnosed when she complained of difficulty in carrying out fine movements of the right hand and tremor for some months. The supratenorial site of cystic hemangioblastomas in the clinical context of Von Hippel-Lindau disease is very rare and clinical presentation of a parkinsonian hemisyndrome is exceptional. In our search through the literature we have found tumors with many types of histology (meningiomas, glial tumors, craniopharyngioma, epidermoid cysts) in the origin of tumoral parkinsonism. CONCLUSIONS: However, we have found no previous case of cystic hemangioblastomas. We also emphasize that there was full resolution of the condition after total removal of the tumour.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The development of multiple sclerosis following an isolated episode of optic neuritis. Magnetic resonance study].

BACKGROUND: An important controversy on the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) after an isolated episode of optic neuritis (ON) exists. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method of election in order to detect demyelinated lesions in MS. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of brain abnormalities on MRI and to asses the further development of MS after an isolated idiopathic ON in our population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1991 to 1995, 60 patients with decrease of visual acuity were studied, 35 (28 women, half age 31 +/- 10 years) completed criteria of idiopathic ON. A brain MRI was performed in all patients after the diagnosis of idiopathic ON and they subsequently were followed in the outpatient clinic from our center for a mean time of 29 +/- 16 months. 24 out of the 35 patients were treated with corticosteroids in different ways. RESULTS: It has been found 43% of the patients with idiopathic ON to have brain lesions by MRI. During the follow-up 14% of the patients developed a clinically definite MS; all of them had a pathological brain MRI at the basal evaluation (p = 0.009). None of the patients that were treated with high-dose of intravenously corticosteroids developed MS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of silent cerebral lesions in the MRI after an idiopathic ON is elevated in our population although further development of MS is lower possibly due to the short follow-up carried out. The presence of lesions in the MRI confers a high risk for developing MS after an idiopathic ON.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Jugular megabulb as a cause of pulsatile tinnitus].

INTRODUCTION: Pulsatile tinnitus (AP), possibly of vascular origin, may be a sign of various vascular and non-vascular pathological processes. Arteriovenous fistulas and malformations are, perhaps, the commonest cause of AP. CLINICAL CASE: A 64 year-old woman presented with AP of the right ear for the past 14 years. It was continuous all day and could be observed externally by the examiner. The intensity of the tinnitus diminished on right later-cervical compression and on turning her head to the left. There was bilateral transmission deafness. Neurological examination was normal. Complementary explorations (MR, CT of the base of the skull and cerebral arteriography) showed the presence of a jugular megabulb of the right side. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of AP may be for many years the only sign of subjacent vascular pathology, such as a megabulb of the jugular vein.

Female↗
PubMed1997

[Comparative study of the effect of low-dosage acetylsalicylic acid and triflusal in the prevention of cardiovascular events among young adults with ischemic cerebrovascular disease].

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of the low doses AAS in the prevention of the cerebral infarction has not been clearly still verified. OBJECTIVE: To compare the long term effectiveness of the treatment with low doses AAS in front of triflusal in the reduction of the stroke, ischemic cardiopathy, and cardiovascular death risks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 386 patients with a first ischemic stroke, 217 were selected (106 triflusal, 111 AAS) that completed the approaches of atheromatous infarct (161 males, 72.2% and 58 female, 25.8%). The mean age was 43 years (standard deviation, SD 6.4, 95% CL 20-50). The patients received one of theses treatments: a) AAS (Sedergine) 330 mg/day (once a day); b) Triflusal (Disgren), 900 mg/day (300 mg 3 times a day). The mean time of follow-up for the group triflusal was of 48.3 months (20-94), while for the group AAS was of 46.3 months (2-84). RESULTS: The combined incidence of cerebral infarcts, ischemic cardiopathy and vascular death was 19.8% in the patients treated with triflusal, and 28.8% in the patients treated with AAS what supposes a reduction of the risk of the 39% (OR 0.61; CL 0.30-2.01). In the subgroup of patients with carotid stenoses of more than 70% demonstrated by angiography, triflusal produces a significant reduction of risk (OR 0.30; CL 0.10-0.90). Also, triflusal reduced in 76% the risk of hemorrhagic complications in comparison of the AAS (OR 0.24; IC 0.06-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: The study adds new doubts about the effectiveness of the low doses of AAS in the secondary prevention of the cerebral infarct. The triflusal shows effectiveness in subgroup of high risk and a significative reduction of the hemorrhagic complications that would be confirmed in controlled clinical trials with a greater number of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Antibodies against endothelial cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The humoral immune response seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and particularly the endothelial cell may be a possible target for this immune response. MATERIAL & METHODS: using an ELISA technique, we have investigated the prevalence of antibodies directed against human vein endothelial cells in the sera of 84 patients with MS, 35 stroke patients, 50 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 76 normal controls. The measurements in MS patients were tested a second time after cytokine stimulation with gamma and beta-interferon at different doses. Seven MS patients (two positive and five negative) had three or more clinical assessments including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) over a three-month period, and at least three AECA determinations were carried out. Gadolinium MRI examinations were performed monthly during these three months. RESULTS: Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been identified in 9 of 84 patients suffering from MS (10.71%), in 3 of 35 stroke patients (8.57%) and in 20 of 50 SLE patients (40%). None of 76 normal controls had a positive titre of AECA. Cytokine stimulations did not modify the detection of these antibodies. No correlation between AECA and different clinical parameters such as onset age, clinical symptoms at onset and at sampling, clinical course and score measured by the EDSS was found in MS patients. No relationship was found between MRI activity and the presence of AECA. CONCLUSION: AECA do not seem to be a marker for a specific subset of MS patients.

Adolescent↗